Beaver Dam State Park

This park was a great find in the middle of the cornfields of southern Illinois. The sites are pretty large and the woods (yes woods in the cornfields) are pretty. The park backs up to a soybean field but that just reminds you that you’re in Illinois, right?

All sites looked pretty level with gravel floors that were often sloped on the sides to facilitate water runoff. Each site has a fire plate, a large (3’x3’?) steel plate that sits above the ground on rebar legs. Odd design... there were also large bbq grills at each site. There is a small bathhouse that is clean but old. There are other vault toilets throughout the campground for campers’ convenience. Sites have electric and water spigots are scattered throughout the campgrounds.

There is a small lake near the campground that the camp host assured us was formed by beavers, but the beavers are long gone now. There is a restaurant on the lake and a small gift shop. The restaurant was only open on the weekend so we didn’t get to try it out. Also there aren’t many premanent campers - just a few at the front of the campgrounds, so we didn’t have to have neighbors who think their home comforts trump campers’ desire to be outside enjoying nature. yes, I have a problem with tons of lights and outdoor speakers...

Beaver Dam has three loops for camping, a pretty lake, plenty of shade, and a small playground. The price is good and it’s easy to get to. Clintonville is nearby and is a pretty little town. Be sure to see their courthouse - it’s an impressive edifice for amtown that size. Recommended for overnighting or a couple of days.

It was ok. Sites much to close, but bathrooms were very clean. Saw there was a winery in the park but no time to visit so can't comment on that. It'd be good for a weekend. No complaints.

We were just passing through and needed a place to tent camp on a Friday night in October. It was fairly full, but there was still space at about dusk. There's a separate tent area near the covered group picnic area (great for dinner in the rain). The tent area has vault toilets (updated and clean) and the RV area is a short walk away with flush toilets and showers. Everything was clean and the hosts were pleasant and helpful. We paid $10 for a tent site - the RV sites are likely more.

Very nicely kept state park. Attentive hosts with clean sites, speed limits and quiet times enforced. Mostly level sites. Anything from tent sites to 50 amp large rig sites. Beautiful small lake. Cafe overlooking lake with good food and service. Several walking trails, enjoy the one circling the lake. Fills quickly on in-season weekends with lots of family camping so get a reservation or get there Thursday. Carlinville is a small town gem nearby. Visit the shops on the square and see the gorgeous main courtroom in the old courthouse.

We stay here in 40 ft motorhome. I am able to use ATT with my hotspot to work from RV if in the lower numbered sites up front.

Stayed here from 9/17/19 to 9/20/19. I was surprised by how nice this park was. It has a lot of great amenities like hiking trails, a restaurant, a lake for fishing, a basketball court, and playgrounds. There is a nice dump station right on your way in (rinse water only - potable water is inside the campground loop). Each site has a fire pit, a grill, and a picnic table. Some of the sites looked a little close together, but I've seen much worse.

The only downsides were the cell service (Verizon didn't work at all and AT&T had a couple bars but it was slow at times) and the campground was very busy and could get pretty noisy at times. Apparently the day I was there was the first day for trout fishing, so I'm guessing it's not normally that busy, but it was really packed the weekend I was there. Overall I had a great experience here though.

Great place, clean showers and the bathroom located in the shower house was much nicer. Nice lake to fish on, an archery range my kids enjoyed and different trail options. The site had easy electric hook ups for my camper and 2 extension cords. Picnic table, a fire pit and grill pit available. Our site was pull thru, not many others so we got lucky. Will definitely stay again.

Stayed overnight in spot 40, which has a 30 and 50 amp option. There seems to be a fire pit and cooking pit at each site. There are walking paths throughout the park and there was only 1 other camper during the snowy winter day in March. The spots all seem to be back in, but navigating the loop is easy. Originally was going to camp in spot 39, but found that spot to be oddly shaped and not ideal to back in our 30 FT TT. In the summer there is a lake and food store/restaurant. There is a Walmart, Ace Hardware, and gas station within about 5-15 minutes. Carlinville is about 15 minutes away and has a cute downtown area with shops and places to eat- worth the short drive to explore!

We enjoyed our stay but would not recommend site 32 as the fire pit in the neighboring campsite was very close to our RV. There are a lot of sites here that are level and farther apart from each other. The walking is great, the dam is pretty, bathrooms old but clean. Very quiet and peaceful during the week.